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A group of UNLV students will start their effort Wednesday to build the best solar-powered, energy-efficient home.

The home, known as DesertSol, will be part of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013, a competition involving 20 colleges from around the world all trying to make the prototype home of the future.

The students must design and build a home that is 754 square feet with sustainable resources.

Team Las Vegas' effort will be designed for energy-efficient living in the Mojave Desert. It will take months to complete the work and every piece of the home must first be tested to make sure it is working properly. Once it is tested, DesertSol will be moved to California for judging.

It has taken 60 students, 10 faculty members and dozens industry consultants more than a year to perfect the design.